Backgammon – Three General Schemes

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans used. You want to be able to switch strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious trouble seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!